Only, a half year on from Ford India closing down the manufacturing in India, we presently have news that the American company might actually restart making vehicles here, having been conceded endorsement under the public authority’s PLI scheme.
Kapil Sharma, a director, Communications at Ford India, said in a meeting, “We thank the Government of India for approving Ford’s proposal under the PLI scheme for the automobile sector. As Ford leads customers through the global electric vehicle revolution, we’re exploring the possibility of using a plant in India as an export base for EV manufacturing.”
Past the news that Ford could continue producing vehicles here. They could be for trade, there are other invigorating suggestions that are yet to be uncovered like which models would be produced, at which plant, and whether they will be offered to Indian buyers, and if so, when?
Ford India EVs: Which plant could they utilize?
For the time being, Ford is justifiably hush-hush and has no further details to add; the organization presently needs to conclude which of its two plants it keeps. The two plants, having delivered just gas-powered motor (ICE) models, would require re-tooling and other huge changes to deal with EV production. Hence, the choice would ride on which of the two would be suited to the required re-tooling.
Nonetheless, another significant component would be which plant has a higher potential available to be purchased, as Ford has expressed that it can’t keep both functional and is hoping to sell one of them. Accordingly, the firm has a ton to sort out on this front.
The motor company has an extremely powerful EV strategy that incorporates numerous new EVs. The organization as of late declared an enormous investment of US$30 billion all around the world to convey all-new hybrid and completely electric vehicles. Of these, the India plant would, more likely than not, be utilized to fabricate cheaper EVs to use India’s minimal expense structure.
If reports are considered, it surely won’t be any time soon, given the broad re-tooling done to the plant, and furthermore that this will probably be an all-new model that is yet to be made.
Ford India EVs: Are they just for trade?
As per the statement given by the company, Ford could make India an export-only manufacturing base. The Government PLI scheme takes into consideration organizations to locally make products regardless of whether they are not sold here, insofar as the company meets localization targets, year-on-year growth targets, and a few other rules.
However, with an active dealer network, Ford will proceed to help clients with a five-year value freeze on spare parts and consumables, and furthermore declaring that it would have more than 90% of its service network. It would appear to be legit to sell these made-in-India EVs locally. Besides, the PLI plot requires a high level of localization, which would thus make these lower-segment EVs very viable for the Indian market.
Sharma said the organization has not yet imagined that arrangement, saying, “There have been no specific discussions on this right now as Ford also plans to serve customers in India with must-have, iconic vehicles, including the Mustang coupe.”
Along these lines, we could see a blend of privately made Ford electric vehicles and imported better quality Fords soon in India. With this turn of events, it’s very clear Ford has not abandoned India and is excited about keeping its choices open in the Indian market.